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2017 | Doing Business in Connecticut 71 Tourism, Arts & Culture C onnecticut is the third-smallest state in the nation, but a giant in terms of things to do. "We have a lot of firsts and biggests," says Connecticut Director of Tourism Randy Fiveash. e biggest draw is the two casinos in the southeastern part of the state: Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Today, the casinos offer more than just gaming, Fiveash points out. ey also offer world-class entertainment, fine dining, spa facilities, and shopping. For more family fun, the state also boasts several amusement parks, including Lake Compounce, which features a historic wooden roller coasters. And for history buffs, there is plenty to discover in Con- necticut, including the first law school in the nation called the Tapping Reeve House & Law School in Litchfield. With such a variety of things to do, tourism is big business in Connecticut. It's a $14-billion-per-year industry, according to Fiveash, producing 118,000 jobs. Fiveash is expanding partnerships with tourist businesses across the state in a new regional marketing program. His office has spent the last year creating a state-of-the-art website, CTvisit.com, which includes links to the individual websites of more than 4,000 attractions. Below, we take you to a few of the tourism, arts and culture high- lights that make Connecticut unique. Mystic Seaport ere is no better place to explore marine history than Mystic Seaport, which features the Charles W. Morgan, the last remaining wooden whaler in the world. e historic boat "operated for 80 years, with 37 voyages to virtu- ally all parts of the world, and everywhere she went she represented America and brought back the culture of other countries," said Stephen White, president of Mystic Seaport. An anchor for Mystic Seaport, the ship might also serve as a meta- phor for the museum itself, representing marine heritage, education and the new horizons continually revealed by the sea. "ere is history and authenticity to this place," said White. Some of the buildings were on the property during the time of working shipyards and textile mills. Others were transported from sites that share the Connecticut coastal heritage — such as the Buckingham-Hall House, a farmhouse that was originally situated at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Continued on page 74> PHOTO/MYSTIC SEAPORT Thrills, Frills & Natural Beauty Connecticut's tourism industry offers it all By Joan Hunt